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Le Chéile May 2014 – now available online

The latest issue of Le Chéile is now available:

Please click here to see the May issue of Chéile

The May issue features updates and articles on:

  • Clane Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann
  • Clane Men’s Shed
  • The Evergreens
  • Clane Tennis Club
  • Clane Local History Group
  • Park View Residents
  • Collection for the Poor of Uganda
  • Clane ICA
  • Clane Toastmasters
  • Clane GAA
  • Fr John Sullivan S.J.
  • Clane and Rathcoffey Community Games
  • Kildare and 1916
  • The Boy’s Old School
  • Charity Trip to Costa Rica
  • Official Opening of the Community Centre (from our archives)

If you wish to print out Le Chéile in booklet form please click here to download the booklet version.

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    Coming soon: Pygmalion

    Pygmalion Clane Musical Society preparations are well underway for their upcoming staging of George Bernard Shaw’s Pygmalion from May 7th to 10th in the Abbey.

    With their wonderful success in the All Ireland AIMS/HB competitions last year we look forward to seeing their production of one of Shaw’s most popular plays, the inspiration for the musical and the film My Fair Lady.

    Tickets are now available from Marron’s Pharmacy, Anne Noonan at 087 6897376 and at the door.

     

     

     

     

     

    Clane’s Spring Clean – Thank You!

    A big thank you to all the volunteers and supporters who helped kick-off Clane Tidy Town’s programme for 2014 with our big Spring Clean.

    In association with an Taisce and Tír na Móna, blackspots in and around Clane were tackled with gusto, and a significant amount of rubbish retrieved. Some of the results of the efforts can be seen in the photos below. Areas cleaned-up included:

    • The large open-ground near Lidl
    • The Capdoo lane just off the Kilcock Road
    • The Kilcock road near Millicent graveyard
    • The Ballinagappa Road
    • The Stream Park
    • Inner relief road
    • The Liffey Walk
    • Liffeyside Nature Park
    • The ruin at Alexandra Bridge

    A big thanks to Clane Trout and Salmon Anglers whose members retrieved over 12 bags of rubbish from in and around the Liffey. Sincere thanks also go to local businesses who supported the event: McKenna’s Hardware, Doolin’s Londis, Condrons SuperValu, AES Bord na Móna and Campbell’s Tyres. A special mention too to Cllr. Pádraig McEvoy who helped organise the broader Tír na Móna clean up as well as support the local Clane Tidy Towns efforts.

    By the end of the day a full roll-on roll-off skip was filled to the brim with rubbish, and a trailer load of recyclable waste was collected by Kildare County Council for reprocessing.

    Sincere thanks to all who contributed to the event in any way.

     

     

     

    Le Chéile April 2014 – now available online

    The latest issue of Le Chéile is now available:

    Please click here to see the April issue of Chéile

    The April issue features updates and articles on:

    • Clane Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann
    • Plain Speakers, Naas
    • Clane Local History Group
    • Clane St. Patrick’s Day Festival 2014
    • Clane ICA
    • Clane Mens’ Golf Club
    • The Evergreens
    • Clane GAA
    • Thank you to a Local Hero
    • The Boys Old School
    • Clane Community Council from 1973 – 2013

    Please note too that bookings are now being taken for adult education classes in Scoil Mhuire Clane. Please click here for a summary of the classes available. Classes can be booked online at http://www.clanesm.com.

    If you wish to print out Le Chéile in booklet form please click here to download the booklet version.

    To receive a reminder email as soon as future issues of Le Chéile becomes available please supply your details here:

      Your Name

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      Celebrating Clane’s 10th St. Patrick’s Day Parade…

      The Abbey - in a new light!

      The Abbey – in a new light!

      Clane was alive with people on Monday March 17th, all there to celebrate Clane’s 10th St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

      The highlight of a busy schedule of events, Main Street and beyond were lined several deep with residents and visitors enjoying the 43 or so floats that participated in the parade.

      Clane Community Council and Clane Tidy Towns were delighted to be part of the occasion, with members of the community young and old all dressed up for the Big Celebration. And they did not come empty handed – a great big ‘cake’ was prepared to mark the 10th Birthday of the Parade, the 40th of the Council, the 80th of our Lord Mayor Dessie Marron, the 150th of the Alexandra Bridge over the Liffey, and many more other celebrations of the community besides.

      With the newly commissioned flagpole and lighting, for the first time the Council also marked the occasion at the Abbey with a tricolour proudly flying from the tower, and the tower washed in green by night. At the invitation of Fr. Paul, we were also delighted to bathe the Church of St. Patrick and St. Brigid in warm green glow.

      Congratulations to the hardworking St. Patrick’s Festival committee for organising a wonderful programme of events, and to all those that helped and supported the festival in any way.

      Church of St. Patrick and St. Brigid ... with a hint of green

      Church of St. Patrick and St. Brigid … with a hint of green

      Proceedings come to a close on Thursday at 8pm in the Westgrove. See you there!

      Clane’s 10th St. Patrick’s Day Festival – celebrating in style!

      Clane Abbey in Green St Patricks Day 2014

      Clane Abbey in a whole new light!

      The clock is ticking and the countdown has begun for Clane’s 10th Saint Patrick Day Festival.

      This year there is a fantastic array of events lined up  for all ages and interests by the hardworking Clane Festival Committee. So dig out the wellies, polish the dancing shoes, root out the face paints and enjoy.

      Click the programme below for a bigger version and check out ClaneFestival.ie for all the details.

      And finally, don’t worry if you are not in Clane on the big day – this year you can watch the parade live on the web from 2.45pm. Just go to www.clanefestival.ie and click on “WATCH IT LIVE”!

      Clane Festival Progamme 2014

      Le Chéile March 2014 – now available online

      The latest issue of Le Chéile is now available:

      Please click here to see the March issue of Le Chéile

      The March issue features updates and articles on:

      • Clane Toastmasters
      • Clane Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann
      • Millicent Ladies Golf
      • The Observer
      • The Evergreens
      • Park View Residents
      • Clane Mens’ Golf Club
      • Clane GAA Golf Society
      • Clane St. Patrick’s Day Festival 2014
      • Clane ICA
      • Clane Community Council
      • CASA: Caring and Sharing Association
      • Clane GAA
      • Clane & Rathcoffey Community Games
      • The Name Clane and Related Issues

      If you wish to print out Le Chéile in booklet form please click here to download the booklet version.

      To receive a reminder email as soon as future issues of Le Chéile becomes available please supply your details here:

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        Spring is in the Air!

        Clane Musical Society’s annual concert Sing into Spring will be staged in The Westgrove Hotel, Clane on Friday 28th February at 8.00 pm. The concert promises to be a wonderful night of musical entertainment. Tickets (€15 for adults and €10 for children under 16 and Senior Citizens) are on sale in Marron’s Pharmacy or may be booked by phoning Anne Noonan at 087 6897376. There has already been some advance block-booking, so don’t be disappointed – book your tickets early and enjoy a great night’s entertainment with Clane Musical Society as we Sing into Spring.

        Sadie O’Reilly PRO

        Interested in Mentoring Young People?

        A mentoring project that recruits, trains and supports volunteers from local communities to work as mentors to young people or their parents is currently seeking volunteers from the Kildare area.  It’s a opportunity for mentors to share their skills and experience with a young person in their community, encouraging them to getting involved in sport, activities or education.

        No experience is required as full training and support is given. Mentors meet once a week locally to do activities together.  For more information, contact 087-2016801/ email or visit the website.

        Closing date for this round of applications is February 24th.

        Le Chéile February 2014 – now available online

        Le Chéile, Clane’s community magazine, has been published in one form or another since January 1974. 40 years in existence, Le Chéile is now being made available free of charge online below. Printed copies are also being made available in Clane Library.

        We hope this move online will extend the reach of Le Chéile to a wider audience – both in Clane and far beyond. It will also remove a significant burden of costs from our shoulders and allows us to continue publishing into the future.

        May we take this opportunity to thank everyone who has supported and contributed to the first 40 years of Le Chéile. In particular we would like to acknowledge the wonderful foresight and generosity of the McEvoy family, and Tony McEvoy in particular, for founding and then continuously publishing Clane’s community newsletter throughout this time. We are delighted that Tony will continue editing your Le Chéile as it now moves online.

        If you would like to receive Le Chéile as soon as it becomes available please subscribe here (you can unsubscribe at any time):

          Your Name

          Your Email (required)

          Please click here to see the February issue of Le Chéile.

          The February issue features updates and articles on:

          • Manzor’s Ladies Golf Society
          • Clane Local History Group
          • Evergreens
          • Community Games
          • Clane Musical Society
          • School Enrolment
          • Clane Golf Club
          • Clane GAA
          • ICA
          • Clane Tennis Club
          • Millicent Ladies Golf
          • Clane Community Council
          • Clane St. Patrick’s Day Festival 2014
          • Pantomine
          • Clane Men’s Shed
          • St. Brigid’s Table, Chair and Thimble in Carrigeen?

          If you wish to print out Le Chéile in booklet form please click here to download the booklet version.

          Clane Community Council AGM

          CCC LogoClane Community Council held its annual AGM on January 27th.

          Chairman John Kennedy addressed the audience, providing a status of all various aspects of the council, and an update on its plans. He called out some of the key achievements in 2013, the 40th of the Council, in which much effort was put into Celebrating Community. He referred to the updated Constitution, the relaunched website, the Community Celebration in the Abbey, the launch of the Claonadh award, the unveiling of the new honour boards in the Abbey and the big switch-on of the Christmas lights and Abbey Tower lighting.

          The financial supporters of the Council were all thanked, including Kildare County Council,
          The Heritage Council, Clane Project Centre, Intel Ireland, County Kildare Leader Partnership, contributors to our church-gate collections, participants and sponsors of our annual Golf Classic, and all those who made additional donations in support of Community Council activities. The Power and Drumm families were also thanked for their very generous donation to the community of the new external lights to the Abbey. The hard work of all the members of the Council was also acknowledged.

          Looking to the future, the re-roofing of the Abbey’s Evergreen room,  the transition of Le Chéile to a more sustainable model and the strengthening of membership of the Council itself were all highlighted as areas to be tackled.

          Secretary Paul Carroll then presented the Secretary’s Report summarising the activity of the Council and its subcommittees since the last AGM. The wonderful successes of the Community Games and Tidy Towns committees were called out, as was the great progress achieved by the other Community Council subcommittees.

          In his capacity as acting-Treasurer Paul Carroll then presented the Treasurer’s Report on behalf of Nick Fitzgerald, providing a comprehensive update on the Council’s financial position. Expenditure was up on previous years, the additional outlay for the various Celebration of Community activities being a major factor. In parallel, income was down – rental of the Abbey tower mast coming to an end and bookings of the hall remaining low pending roof repairs.

          Executive officers for 2014 were nominated, seconded, and elected as follows:

          • Chairman: John Kennedy
          • Vice-Chairman: John Power
          • Treasurer: Paul Carroll
          • Asst. Treasurer: Anne Noonan
          • Secretary: Nick Fitzgerald
          • Asst. Secretary: Des Drumm
          • PRO: Tony McEvoy
          • Asst. PRO: Marion Doolan

          2013 was busy but very enjoyable year, with many events arranged to celebrate community as part of our 40th Anniversary. In this coming year we wish to build on the momentum and reinforce the Council and the community facilities it manages for the benefit of all. We look forward to working with you, and appreciates your continued support.

          For more information on the night including a summary presentation please see here.

          “It takes a village to raise a child”

          Clane Community Booklet Cover

          Clane Community Council would like to encourage all members of the community – whether they have lived here for a lifetime or for a few weeks – to get involved in their community.

          As part of this effort, and to help mark our 40th Anniversary, a booklet has been produced introducing just some of the wonderful community groups in Clane.

          Keep an eye our for it coming through your letter box. If it doesn’t arrive, please contact us for a copy. Alternatively you can download the booklet by clicking on the cover page here:

           

          Celebrating Pride of Place

          A big congratulations to Otomy and to Park View who both were awarded first place in their categories in the County Kildare Pride of Place competition organized by Kildare County Council. Despite tremendous competition from around the county these estates were picked out for their wonderful community spirit so visible in and around the estates. Well done to both resident’s associations and to all the residents supporting their efforts.

           

          Community Council – Nominations Open

          As you may know Clane Community Council is made up of volunteers from the community and members are nominated every two years. The current Council is drawing to a close – and nominations are now being sought for the new Council spanning 2014 to 2015.

          To nominate yourself or someone else please fill out the nomination form below, also available in Londis on Main Street and in Le Chéile. Please pop the form into the nomination box in Londis.

          Nominations close at 6pm on Friday 29th November.

          Nominees should be 18 years of age or older and resident within the area of Clane highlighted in the Constitution of Clane Community Council. Nominated persons will be contacted to confirm their consent.

          Clane Community Council

          Electoral Term 2013-2015

          Nomination Paper

           

          I _______________________________________________
          the above named, wish to nominate:

          _______________________________________________
          Above write the name of person being nominated.

          ____________________________________________________
          Nominated person’s address (and telephone number)

          as a candidate in the Community Council Election.

          Tidy Towns Awards…Drumroll Please…

          Monday 21st October was the occasion of the Clane Tidy Towns Awards night where all of the hard work of residents associations, local businesses and the Tidy Towns committee was celebrated. Our new All-Ireland Champions – the wonderful Clane and Rathcoffey Community Games Mixed Under 10 Gaelic Football team – were also honoured…

          Clane and Rathcoffey Community Games

          Clane’s Community Games endeavours lasted all the way to the national finals in Athlone this year as our Mixed Under 10 Gaelic Football team made it all the way to the finals…and won…becoming All Ireland Champions!

          Most of the winning panel made it to the award ceremony and were presented with a little memento of the occasion. The full panel included Ronan Murphy, Dean Cumiskey, Oisin O’Sullivan, Seán Sheridan, Micheál O’Connor, Ben Kirwan, Matthew Walsh-Hussey, Ethan Farrell, Holly Farrell, Leah Feane, Patrick McNally, Rebecca Lynch, Rosemary Ennis, Daire Doherty, James Ball, Christopher Part, Laoise Gillman, Sean Finnerty and Sean Tighe.

          The squad were carefully and expertly coached and managed by a team consisting of Ray Kiernan, John Doherty, David Farrell and Jill Gillman, all of whom were thanked for the time and effort they put into the panel.

          Of course the team could not have progressed without physically getting to the various matches, and so for their generous financial support which enabled coach hire, local businesses P.D.M., Cooney Electronics, XL Tools Leixlip, David Lowe and Co. Ltd. – Greg Hopkins, Paul McCormack – McCormack Hooper Dolan, and Robert Massey – Bostik Ltd. were all thanked.

          A special presentation was also made to the wonderful Martina Healy for her leadership and dedication to Clane and Rathcoffey Community Games. So many of the children of Clane have enjoyed Community Games over the years thanks to her hard work, and the work of her enthusiastic committee.

          Congratulations to all involved and here’s looking forward to our All Ireland champions achieving even greater successes in the years to come.

          Clane Tidy Towns

          Clane Tidy Towns achievements were also celebrated on the evening. The chairman of Clane Community Council, John Kennedy, thanked the residents, the businesses, the churches, the schools, the scouts, the individuals and in particular the hardworking Committee of Clane Tidy Towns for helping Clane look so well this year, progressing even further in the national Tidy Towns competition than before, this year reaching top of it’s class in Kildare.

          Matt Hayes from the Tidy Towns Committee then thanked the various sponsors of the night all of the contributors to the activities during the year before finally the moment of truth: the results of the best kept estates and best kept premises were announced. With prizes sponsored by Clane Project Centre, the winners were:

          Small Estates

          1. Awarded jointly to Mainham Wood and College Grove
          2. Butterstream Drive and Lawn

          Medium Estates

          1. Park View
          2. Oatfield Park

          Large Estates:

          1. Abbey Park
          2. Central Park and Churchfield
          3. Loughbollard

          Best Presented Premises

          1. Manzor’s – The Village Inn

          Although not every estate could receive an award, no estate went home empty handed as Clane Tidy Towns had organised for a Nest Box and a bag of spring bulbs to be presented to each estate as a thank you for participating the competition. The Tidy Towns committee passed on a sincere thank you to everyone who helped out in Clane Tidy Towns activities in 2013 in any way – and encouraged anyone with any suggestions for improvements in 2014 to get in touch with any of them at any time.

          Indeed – there is a great opportunity coming up this November 8th to meet with the Tidy Towns team: they are hosting a table quiz in Manzor’s on Friday evening in support of Clane Tidy Towns activities. Tables of four costing €40 with kick off at 9pm. Why not enter a team and help close off the Tidy Towns year with some fun!

           

           

          Christmas Market and Festival – calling all local businesses and crafts people…

          Following the great success of last years ‘Christmas Festival & Market’ Clane Project Centre will be running the event again this year.

          On Sunday 8th December 2013  at the Westgrove Hotel, Clane from 1.30 – 5.30pm
          Like last year there will be numerous stalls for seasonal fare complimented with Entertainment, a Kids playarea and a visit from ‘Santa’.
          Clane Project Centre are looking for local Crafts people, Bakers, Businesses, Designers, Artists and everyone in between!
          If you would like the opportunity to display and sell your wares they would be delighted to hear from you.Raffle Proceeds are to the ‘Little Way Cancer Support Centre’ Clane, Co. Kildare.

          The Stall will consist of 6ft table with white table cloth. €30 cost of a stall for the day.

          If you require any further information and if you would like to take part please do not hesitate to contact Marie Sheehy or Ted Murray at CPC Office on 045 861500.

          Clane Poet publishes in aid of St. Brigid’s Hospice

          David Joseph Cribbin is a poet who was born and grew up in Clane. He has published poetry in many poetry magazine and has had two of his collections published. When his father, Thomas J. Cribbin, was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer, in June of this year, he decided to donate the proceeds of his latest collection Father Crow and Other Poems to the St. Brigid’s Hospice in the Curragh after seeing what a wonderful job they do out there.

          Thomas Cribbin

          Thomas Cribbin, RIP

          David said, “Dad himself had a way with words , he used to call his beloved GAA, ‘Nothing but 30 men in a field chasing a bag of wind.’ I’ve always loved that phrase ‘bag of wind’ instead of the prosaic – ball.”

          Thomas passed away in August and David wrote the eulogy for his father and included the poem Return, which he wrote for him while he was being cared for in St. Brigid’s Hospice

          Return

          You’re going home,
          returning never to
          be turned away again,
          returning never to
          return to away again.

          You’re returning home.

          Your sheep are there –
          their sleet fleece begging
          to be sheared,
          echoing the Sun’s heat
          in a shining peal reply,
          grazing in unconscious
          contentment on dew
          covered pastures,
          luminous jade in
          an eternal spring morning.

          You’re returning home.

          Your dog Shep is there,
          his coal and milk pelt
          wind tossed in the warm
          breeze, doppelgänger
          for the sea of
          honey meadow grass
          waving welcomingly
          to you, beckoning you
          to come and join Shep
          bobbing in and out
          of joyful reveal
          and conceal.

          You’re returning home.

          Your water cart is there,
          remade as you first
          made it, fitted out with
          its baker’s drums to
          draw the rain clear water,
          to thirsty mouthed cattle
          on a gentle glide
          home.

          You’re returning home –
          returning never to
          be turned away again,
          returning never to
          return to away again.

          David Joseph Cribbin
          Clane
          2013

          If anyone wishes to donate by buying the book, it is available here – http://www.amazon.co.uk/Father-Other-Poems-Joseph-Cribbin/dp/1490913726/

          Community Games – Mixed U10 Football Team win the All-Ireland!

          Congratulations to the Mixed Under 10 Clane and Rathcoffey Gaelic Football team that recently won the All-Ireland Community Games final in Athlone. They played brilliantly and have done their community very proud.

          A sincere thanks too to all who helped run and support Clane and Rathcoffey Community Games this year – the team would not have been able to make it all the way to the finals without your generous support.

           

          All-Ireland recogniton for Clane Musical Society

          Clane Musical Society has outdone itself this year in the All Ireland AIMS/HB awards held recently in the Gleneagle Hotel in Killarney. With four nominations the society returned to Clane with a tremendous hoard of sliverware…

          Congratulations to:

          • Helena Reynolds-Begley who won Best Actress
          • Rory Dunne who won Best Male Singer
          • Dave McGauran who won Best Musical Director
          • and the entire cast and crew of Clane Musical Society for coming third in Best Overall Show

          Well done to all who participate in and support Clane Musical Society in any way. In this their 30th year they have done their community very proud. Here’s to their next 30 years!